Carbon Nanotubes Improved the Germination and Vigor of Plant Species from Peatland Ecosystem Via Remodeling the Membrane Lipidome

Abstract

Application of the nanopriming technique to alleviate seed dormancy has shown promising results in various agricultural crop species. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding its potential use in native peatland boreal forest species to alleviate seed dormancy and improve their propagation or vigor for forest reclamation activities. Herein, we demonstrate the use of nanopriming with carbon nanotubes (CNT) to alleviate seed dormancy, improved seed germination, and seedling vigor in two boreal peatland species. Bog birch (Betula pumila L.) and Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum L.) seeds with embryo or seed coat dormancy were nanoprimed with either 20 or 40 µg/mL CNT, cold stratified at 2–4 °C for 15 days, and allowed to germinate at room temperature. The emerged seedlings’ lipidome was assessed to decipher the role of lipid metabolism in alleviating seed dormancy. We observed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in seedling germination and seedling vigor in seeds primed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxylic acids. Phosphatidylcholine (PC 18:1/18:3), phosphatidylglycerol (PG 16:1/18:3), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC 18:3) molecular species (C18:3 enriched) were observed to be highly correlated with the increased seed germination percentages and the enhanced seedling vigor. Mechanistically, it appears that carbon nanoprimed seeds following stratification are effective in mediating seed dormancy by remodeling the seed membrane lipids (C18:3 enriched PC, PG, and LPC) in both peatland boreal forest species. The study results demonstrate that nanopriming may provide a solution to resolve seed dormancy issues by enhancing seed germination, propagation, and seedling vigor in non-resource boreal forest species ideally suited for forest reclamation following anthropogenic disturbances.